Freida Pinto: Modest Mumbaiker to Movie Star

Looking like a mutt among prissy Oscar-groomed purebreds, Slumdog Millionaire has been a breath of fresh air for those who’ve already tired of predicable epic award-baiting pastiches (I'm looking at you, Seven Pounds). And while helmer Danny Boyle and his razor-sharp direction is mostly responsible for the flick's widespread appeal, similarly winsome are the newcomers whose understated performances keep the storyline brisk and smart. Freida Pinto's performance as damsel-in-distress has helped the former model make that tenuous leap into acting. Here she sounds off on Slumdog's success, the fickle nature of destiny and a yen to star opposite Johnny Depp someday.

Congratulations on an excellent performance in Slumdog Millionaire. How are you doing?
Thank you! I’m doing really well. I feel thrilled and so grateful to all the forces at work that have led me to where I am right now. This whole experience has been simply magical. Every now and then I have to pinch myself to check if it’s real. [This film] has been such an enriching experience. Right now, I’m just enjoying the reactions it is receiving and traveling to so many wonderful places, promoting the film.

How have you been handling the surprise success of the film? Does it meet the expectations the cast and director Danny Boyle seemed to have?
Slumdog Millionaire is my first step into the film world, and it was a debut beyond anything I’d ever hoped for. The experience has been absolutely surreal. While shooting for the film, I was just so busy soaking in everything I possibly could from the experience that I didn’t spend a moment thinking about how the film would do. Personally I’d rather spend my time thinking about how I can best contribute to a project since I have control over that. What happens later is beyond my control. I’d rather just wait and watch. But like everything else about [the film], I think the reviews have also gone way beyond my imagination—or that of the rest of the cast and crew—and it feels amazing to see audiences appreciating our efforts.

As someone who grew up in India, what do you think about Slumdog’s portrayal of life in the slums?
Mumbai is home to me. I can honestly say that Danny Boyle has successfully managed to translate the pulse of this vibrant city through his storytelling. I love Mumbai, and the fact that this city does not try to hide its highs or its lows is a vital part of its character. The poor and rich live among each other, and its slums are as much part of it as the beautiful structures that adorn it. I really believe that the film has captured the essence of this special city in a very realistic way.

How do you manage to stay grounded in spite of the success?
After this success, I still consider myself to be a regular Mumbai girl. I’m just one that has been extremely blessed. Yes, I was struggling to make it in this industry, and I did work really hard, but there are so many talented and hardworking actors out there who never get a platform to show the world their capabilities. Not often do you see a middle-class girl from the suburbs of Mumbai, who is just one film old, at international film festivals. I believe that destiny and luck had a big part to play. I do enjoy a some perks due to the success. But I know I have a great support system in terms of family and friends who will make it their business to give me a reality check if I ever let all this get the better of me.

Now that you’re on the road doing promotional campaigns for the film, what do you miss the most about home?
I do sometimes miss having more time to spend with my family, but all this is a dream come true. I love it. It would be silly to complain about having to do lots of traveling. Opportunities like this don’t come by every day.

Before auditioning for the part of Latika, were you familiar with Danny Boyle’s previous work—28 Days Later or Trainspotting? How did you meet Boyle and become a part of the cast?
Absolutely! Danny’s films are unique, and being a big movie buff, I’d watched them all. I got a call from Loveleen Tandon, who is the co-director of the film, asking me to come audition. A six-month-long grueling audition process followed, which Danny Boyle personally oversaw. With each audition, I learned and grew, and slowly the feeling that “Hey! This actually might happen” began to grow.

Were there any Bollywood or Hollywood actresses whose performances you drew inspiration from?
If there is one thing I learned during the auditioning process of this film, it’s that as an actor I need to draw from within myself. Internalization is key, like being able to feel rather than trying to duplicate someone else’s performance.

In past interviews, you’ve said that more experienced actresses were considered for the role that you won.
I had not had any formal training in acting when I was auditioning for Slumdog Millionaire, so what I meant was that there many girls who had been trained and did have far more experience than me since I was absolutely fresh.

You’ve also got a few years of modeling under your belt. Was modeling always your ultimate goal—or was it always a means to get into acting? Or did you have your heart set on something else?
Honestly, I remember harboring dreams of being an actor since I was five years old. For someone like me with no godfather in the film industry, it was easier to break into modeling. I did use modeling as a means to get into the film world. I enjoyed modeling. It taught me a lot in terms of being confident and definitely helped me prepare for what was to come next.

And finally, which Hollywood icon would you love to star opposite of if given the chance?
I would love to work with seasoned actors like Leonardo Di Caprio and Johnny Depp. I think they are simply fantastic and so versatile. I would love to do a dark romantic film with Johnny Depp.

Having had this initial bit of success, are you eyeing bigger roles and perhaps even an Oscar further down your career? Can we expect to see you in anything else soon?
With each film I want to grow as an actor. I want to do performance-driven roles. Slumdog Millionaire is a film about destiny. And destiny itself had a major part to play in me getting this role. I believe that things like a middle class girl debuting in a Danny Boyle film cannot be planned. Neither can winning an Oscar. If it’s meant to be, it will. I’ve realized that the beauty of life is that it takes turns that are sometimes bigger than your wildest dreams.